(Adapted from Positive Intelligence™)
(#4 in a series of 10)

Do you feel you never get a break? I mean, really, you feel anxious if you are not double and triple checking your and your team’s work before it gets submitted to your supervisor?

As we explore and describe the 10 Saboteurs that high jack our wellbeing and hold us back from experiencing as much joy and calm in our lives and yes, in our careers and relationships, you may see yourself in this Saboteur.

Today, we focus on the Hyper Vigilant as part of our Saboteur Spotlight.

How does this resonate with you?

Some of the top characteristics of The Hyper Vigilant is the continuous intense anxiety about all the dangers and what could go wrong. Vigilance that can never rest.

The Hyper Vigilant…
Always anxious, with chronic doubts about self and others.
Suspicious of what others are up to.
Might seek reassurance and guidance in procedures, rules, authorities, institutions.

Thoughts
When is the other shoe going to drop?
If I make a mistake, I fear everyone is going to jump down my throat.
I want to trust people, but I find myself suspicious of their motives.

Feelings
Skeptical, even cynical.
Often anxious and highly vigilant.

Justification Lies
Life is full of dangers.
If I do not look out for them, who will?

Impact on Self and Others
The constant anxiety burns a great deal of vital energy that could otherwise be put to great use.
Loses credibility due to the “crying wolf” phenomenon.
Others begin to avoid the Hyper-Vigilant as the intensity of that energy drains them.

Original Survival Function
The Hyper-Vigilant often comes from early experiences where the source of safety and security (parental figure) was unpredictable and unreliable.

It could also result when painful unexpected events proved life to be threatening or unreliable.

The positive intelligence operating system informs us that the Hyper Vigilant is a liar and often engages in self-defeating behavior and thoughts.

Does this sound like you? Do the Hyper Vigilant’s struggles sound like yours? There IS a way to turn down the volume on the Hyper Vigilant’s saboteur voices inside your head. It’s a foundation of our Mental Fitness Bootcamp.

Want to learn more? DM me for more info.

NEXT UP: The Pleaser …we’ll explore how this Saboteur wreaks havoc in our lives and the lies it tells.